How walkable is Reykjavik?

[Khadeejah_al-Jahani]

I drive if I must but I much prefer to get around on foot. Is Reykjavik a city where one really needs a car?

[Sirius_Alpha_Centaur]

The downtown area of Reykjavík is quite small. If you live and work downtown or close to downtown you have access to everything you need in a short walking distance. However, rent is most expensive downtown. Even if one is living in the suburbs Reykjavik It's quite easy to cycle from spring to fall/autumn. During the winter it's usually quite snowy so people prefer to use cars or the public buses which are OK.

[Egill_Ian]

Depends on where you live. If you are downtown (Vesturbær, Miðbær, Austurbær), most places are accessible by foot or biking. Anywhere else wll probably be hard or impossible to get around on foot to places of interest.

The bus system here is abysmal compared to other Nordic countries, but can still be used and is okay once you get accustomed to it. If you are further away from the center, like Grafarvogur or Hafnarfjörður, driving is a lot more convenient than taking a bus since the schedules aren't very forgiving.